They learned to worship from the Spirit
I’ve got this ongoing research project about music in the Book of Mormon. One of the things I’ve noticed is a particular hymn the Nephites seem to have used. After a great victory, it is recorded that:
“they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies. Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God.” (3 Nephi 4:31-32, emphasis added)
A few chapters later, the resurrected Christ appears to a multitude and invites them to touch the marks of his crucifixion. It is then reported that:
“when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying: Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.” (3 Nephi 11:16-17)
Though it is not explicitly stated that the text was again sung at this time, it seems likely that singing (or at the very least a worshipful shouting akin to the modern LDS practice) is what is intended by the phrase ‘cry out with one accord.’
Now, I don’t intend to give here an exhaustive study of this text or its origins. However, I do find it instructive that there is only one other instance of a similar phrase in the Book of Mormon. I want to propose that the Nephites learned this particular pattern of worship directly from the Spirit, who is recorded to have made a remarkable appearance to the early Book of Mormon prophet Nephi:
“And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.” (1 Nephi 11:6)
This bipartite blessing of both God and a person seems to have its origins (including the mention of ‘the most high God’) in Melchizedek’s blessing of Abram in Genesis 14:19-20.
As to what we may learn from the fact that the Nephites developed this hymn of worship inspired by the words of the Spirit, that is perhaps for another time!
